May 23
(A discourse of Gregory the Dialogist.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
Unrepentant sinners say that there will be neither eternal blessedness for the righteous nor eternal torments for sinners. Do they speak the truth?
“A certain soldier,” says Gregory the Dialogist, “perished in a storm at sea, and his body lay lifeless upon the shore. But soon, by the almighty command of God, his soul returned to the body, and he came back to life. What had happened to him while his soul was separated from his body, he related as follows:
‘I saw a bridge, and beneath it there was darkness. A river flowed there, and from it came an unbearable stench, while a kind of gloom covered everything. But before the bridge there stretched beautiful gardens, covered with fragrant grasses and adorned with precious flowers, and a great multitude of men clothed in shining white garments were there, delighting in an indescribable fragrance. There were also various dwellings filled with great light. And there was being built there a wondrous and splendid house with many adornments; but for whom it was being prepared, I could not discover. Along the bank of the river there were also many dwellings, and from some of them there issued foul odors, and the darkness drew near to them; while others were free from all uncleanness. And upon the bridge there was a testing for people. Sinners who attempted to cross the bridge were cast down into the dark and foul-smelling river, but the righteous crossed the bridge with an untroubled and unhindered step.’”
Therefore, the unrepentant sinners lie when they say that there will be neither blessedness for the righteous nor torment for sinners. No — both shall exist, and the latter will be exceedingly terrible for them. The foul-smelling river and impenetrable gloom shall overtake them. Separation from God, fruitless repentance, eternal fire, and gnashing of teeth — all this shall be their lot. Then they shall cry out to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” (Luke 23:30). But it will already be too late. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
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